Apparatus for cracking and distilling hydrocarbons



Aprll 14, 1931.

J. H. ANDERSON APPARATUS FOR CRACKING AND DISTILLNG HYDROCARBONS Filed Oct. 8. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 14, 1931. J. H. ANDERSON APPARATUS Fon CRACKING' AND DISTILLING HYDRocARBoNs i Filed Oct. 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR wrm E s s MM Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN H. ANnEnsON, OP DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssrCNoR To ALTITHERMO ENGINEERING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR CRACETNG AND DIsTILLING HYDROCARBONS i Application filed October 8, 1928. Serial No. 310,951.

The present application is in part a continuation of an application for Letters Patent filed byi'ne onMarch 10th, 1928, Serial Number 260,576, and the present invention resides in improved apparatus for-Cracking' and distillingA hydrocarbons, both liquid and solid, of the type wherein the operation is carried on in an externally heated revolving retort or hollow drum, containing a loose mass of heat-conducting metal bodies, the charge being introduced at one end of the retort vand the products of the operation being withdrawn or discharged at or near the 'pposite end, while the substances being i5 heated within the retort are agitated, broken up, and eventually (if the Operation is suf-A ficiently extended) comminuted or pulverized, by the tumbling about of the loose mass of metal bodies. By the use of the improved 2o apparatus maximum quantities of the desired products areobtained economically and effectively', in a'continuous operation, while all, or substantially all, of the residue, in granular or pulverulent condition, may be automatically discharged, without undesirable accuniulation of residue within the retort, and the latter is thereby made selfcleaning. I have so used the apparatus with v marked success in the production of fixed 3o gas of highheat valuefrom coal tar and heavy liquid hydrocarbons. It can belused with like advantage in the obtainment of light liquid products from heavier liquids, and in the distillation of coal, shale and other' Solid carbonaceoussubstances as well.` In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a central sectional elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, shown as utilized primarily for the obtainment of fixed gas from coal tar or other heavy liquid hydrocarbons. Figure 2 is a front end elevation omitting the supply tank. Figure 3 is an axial sectional plan view of the conical drum or retort. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the central one of three ringswhich constitute a lower thrust-bearing for the retort. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of said three bearing rings assembled. Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showingl the 5o' front portion of the structure of Figure l as modified for the use of the apparatus for the distillation of coal or other solid substance.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the necessary heat is generated in the combustion chamber 1 of the furnace 2 by means of burners 3 projecting through the front wall 4, and the products of combustion pass out through the stack 5 opening out of the combustion chamber. Rotatably supported in the combustion chamber by means to be described presently is the hollow retort 6, which is preferably a metallic shell, and is of the contour of a truncated cone, having at its smaller rear end a coaxial tubular throat 7 which projects out through the rear wall of the combustion chamber, and the open end of which is closed by a perforated screen or lattice 8. The conical retort 6 is tilted over on its side and is supported within the combustion chamber with the lowermost longitudinal line of its side wall in horizontal position, or substantially so, as shown in Figure 1, and consequently with its axis downwardly inclined from front to rear. In the front wall 9 of the larger end of the retort, which is adjacent to the front wall 4 of the combustion chamber, there is formed an axial tubular throat 10, which projects outwardly through an opening in said front wall and to which is connected the Y tubular hub 11 rotatably mounted in bearingsY 12 formed or mounted in the heavy metal frame 13 back of the furnace. Formed upon or secured to the hub 11 is the wormwheel 14, which meshes with theworm 15 on the shaft 16 of the motor 17. Outside the rear wall of the furnace the downwardly inclined tubular extension 7 of the retort rests upon correspondingly inclined bearing rollers 18, and its outer screened open end projects through the inclined lateral opening 19 in the T 20, which has also the upwardly projecting delivery pipe 21 for the gaseous products Coming 9. from the retort, and the downwardly projecting discharge pipe 22 for the granular and more or less pulverulent residue. An external annular shoulder 23 is formed on the extension 7, and a cooperating internal 10o water-channel -31vis formed in the annular shoulder 24; on the thickened wall or head 25 surrounding the opening 19, and between these shoulders are arranged the bearing ringsor annular discs 26,27, 28, the ring 26 being pinned to the shoulder28, andthe ringV 28 pinned `to the shoulder 24, with the Avring 27 confined between them, as shown in Figure 5. The ring Y27 has oil pockets 29 formed inits opposite faces, as shown in Figure 4, and lubricating oilis supplied to' thebearing from the 'oil-cup 30 shown .in Figure 1. Avery effective thrust-bearing is thus provided VYfor the rear or discharge en of the retort, and one which is practically? y I A borhood Aofthe region of initial supply.

The individual metal bodies composing the n impervious to Vthepassage of gas or air.

head 25, having awater-inletpipe 32 and an outlet-pipe 33,'as also shown in Figure 1.'y

AtV the opposite end ofthe apparatus the outer-'end of the tubular hub 11 is tightly closedV by a 'stuffing-box- 34, through whichY passes.` the Voil-supply pipe 35, which leads from the oil-tank 36 through the hub 11, and

Y opens intoV the front :of the retort 6. A cock 37 is provided in the pipe 35 for controlling the Viow of the oil therethrough.

The mass 38 ofloose metal bodies is shown in Figures 1 andB ofthe drawings. When theretort 6 is at v'rest the surface of this mass forms a substantially level floorextending from thejfront of the retortrto the i screen 8, bywhichit is confined atV the rear.v

l When/inthiscondition also the mass within the conical body of the lretort is vof even depth 'on itsl central longitudinal line, by reason ofthe fact'that the lowermost lineof the'bottom wall of the retort is horizontal, or, as it may be said, the retort is supported uponan even keel; but by reason of the conical form of the retort, both the width vof the massk and itsl cross-sectional area I gradually increase from rear to front, the greater volurne of the mass being at the yfrontvof the retort in the locality ofthe points of supply of the'oil or other substance to be treated.

The'employment of a mass yofvloose 'metal bodies in an externally heated rotating re-A tort is not broadly' new with me,`but such vemploymenty in an externally heated retort of the form'herein shown and described is believed to'be new, and ithas been found to possess great Vadvantages over 'other apparatus previously proposedV to be used for similar purposes. For example, if a cylindricalhorizontally supported retort be used,

the dimensions and volume of the loose mass will be'uniformthroughout its length, while if lthe retort or the ioor of thev retort `be materially inclined, Vthe mass will be the sparser at the inlet. end where its volume lshouldfbe the greatest.V The mass of metaly bodies in being tumbled about during the ro` f tation ofthe retort not only agitate and break up Athe. oil under treatment, but having themselves become highlyheated duringthe kheat to the charge.

of great advantage, Vnot only with respect to operation, they impart their accumulatedl YI have found it to be speed of operation and quantity of product, but' with respect torquality of product as Y well, to supply the oil to the retort ata rate diately Vupon `theirintrodu'ction into the re# tort, and consequently the operation is greatly improved by the maintenanceof a relad tively large area and volume of the loose metalbodies at and inthe immediate neighloose mass may beiof'a*.variety-offorms. They may be 'sphericallballa or egg-shaped,

cylindrical or polyhedral; or they may-.be

irregular,v broken .chunks ofk metal; orf the mass may include bodies ofl several different shapes. The bodiesmay be iron or steel; or, if desired, they, or someof them, may be of Vmetal having a catalytic eect, suchas nickel. In tumbling about within the retort the metal bodies continually agitat-e, stir and break up the tarry matterandother residue asV it forms, until under combined heating and attrition the residue'ultimately becomes dry and granular or pulverulent. The open ings through the screen or lattice-are of such size that the metalbodies will be-retainedin the retort, while the' granular residue will flow out freely and automatically,'intov and through the discharge-pipe or other outlet 22. The metal bodies keep one another clean, and they also keep the inner surface of the, retort clean and free from anyaccumulation [of residue, so that theheat will be conducted freely and uniformly through thewall of the retort. Therefore the operationwill proceed Y greatV importance. lIf the operation'within the retort is being conducted 'undersuperatmospheric pres-sure,'passagefof the gases out through this joint may easily create'a .very dangerous environment. Vlhil'eY if 'the operation is'being conducted under, a smallf vac-y uumthe consequences of drawing air inward ly into the flowing gaseous stream may well be equally harmful. 'f An important factor in themaintenance of a tight vjoint is'the rela! tively small diameter of the-outlet' endof the retort 'and' of the extension 7 as compared with that of the body of the retort, whereby the thrusting stress of the retort upon this bearing at the discharge end is greatly augmented. And the effective cooling of this bearing is also an important factor in the maintenance of a tight joint at all times.

It will of course be understood that if the substance to be treated is a very viscous oil, tar or pitch, suitable means, such as a closed steam coil in the tank 36, and a steam jacket around the pipe 35, will be provided in order to render and maintain it sufficiently fluid to flow freely.

In Figure 6 of the drawings I have shown the front or inlet' end of the retort equipped with means for supplying a broken or granular solid substance, such as coal or oil shale. The hopper 40 opens into a tubular throat 41, which is suitably supported in registry with the outer open end of the tubular throat l0 of the retort, and a screw-conveyor 42, having a driving wheel 43 at its outer end is arranged in said aligned throats, and serves to transport the substance into the retort. The operation will then proceed substantially as hereinbefore described.

I claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for cracking and distilling solid or liquid hydrocarbons comprising, in combination, a heating-chamber and means for supplying heat thereto, a conical retort rotatably supported within the heating-chamber with its axis inclined downwardly from its larger to its smaller end and with the lowermost longitudinal line of its conical wall in substantially horizontal position, an inlet for the supply of the substance to be heated into the larger end of the retort, a loose mass of metal bodies contained within the retort, an outlet at the smaller end of the retort, a screen in the outlet permitting the discharge of the products ofthe operation but retaining said metal bodies within the retort, and means for axially rotating the retort.

2. An apparatus for cracking and distilling solid or liquid hydrocarbons comprising, in combination, a heating-chamber and means for supplying heat thereto, a conical metallic retort having a smooth and unobstructed inner surface rotatably supported within the heating-chamber with its axis inclined downwardly from its larger to its smaller end and with the l-owermost longitudinal line of its conical wall in substantially horizontal position, hollow inclined axial trunnions opening out of the retort at its opposite ends and projecting through the opposite end walls of the heating-chamber, means connected to the trunnion at the larger end of the retort'for supplying the substance to be treated, a receiver for the products of the operation connected to the opposite trunnion, a bed of loose metal bodies extending from end to end within the retort, a screen in the said opposite trunnion preventing the discharge of said metal bodies but permitting the free How of the products of the operation, and means connected to one of the trunnions for rotating the retort.

.3. An apparatus for cracking and distilling solid or liquid hydrocarbons comprising, in combination, a heating-chamber and means for supplying heat thereto, a conical retort rotatably supported within the heating-chamber with its axis inclined downwardly from its larger to its smaller end, hollow inclined axial trunnions opening out of the retort at its opposite ends and projecting'through the opposite end walls of the heating-chamber, means connected to the trunnion at the larger end for rotating the retort, an annular bearing-shoulder on the opposite trunnion, a receiver for the products of the operation having a cooperating shoulder, and a thin ring loosely confined between said shoulders.

4. An apparatus for cracking and distilling solid or liquid hydrocarbons comprising, in combination, a heating-chamber and means for supplying heat thereto, a conical retort rotatably supported within the heating-chamber with its axis inclined downwardly from its larger to its smaller end, hollow inclined axial trunnions opening out of the retort at its opposite ends and projecting through the opposite end walls of the heating-chamber, means connected to the trunnion at the lar er end for rotating the retort, an annular earing-shoulder on the opposite trunnion, a receiver for the products of the operation having a cooperating shoulder, a thin ring loosely conned between said shoulders having oil pockets formed in its, opposite faces, and means for supplying lubricating oil to the bearing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN H. ANDERSON. 

